Soccer age group for players born 2018
A player born 2018 plays U8 for the 2026-27 season if born August through December 2018, and U9 if born January through July 2018, under the new US August 1 - July 31 system used by US Youth Soccer, US Club Soccer, AYSO, and MLS NEXT Academy.
Season-by-season chart
| Season | US: born Aug-Dec 2018 | US: born Jan-Jul 2018 | Canada / birth-year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | U7 | U8 | U8 |
| 2026-27 | U8 | U9 | U9 |
| 2027-28 | U9 | U10 | U10 |
| 2028-29 | U10 | U11 | U11 |
What this means for 2018-born players
Players born August 1, 2018 through July 31, 2019 are U8 for the 2026-27 season under the new US system. Players born January 1, 2018 through July 31, 2018 are U9 for the 2026-27 season. Under the old birth-year system, all 2018-born players were together in the same U-group; under the new seasonal system they split at the August 1 cutoff, which now matches the US school-grade calendar in most states.
Game format
U8 plays 4v4 with a size 3 ball. U9 plays 7v7 with a size 4 ball.
Frequently asked questions
What soccer age group is a child born in 2018?+
A player born 2018 plays U8 for the 2026-27 season if born August through December 2018, and U9 if born January through July 2018, under the new US August 1 - July 31 system. Under Canada Soccer's birth-year system, all 2018-born players are U9.
What game format does a 2018-born player play in 2026-27?+
2018-born players born Aug-Dec play 4v4; those born Jan-Jul play 7v7.
Does the age system change how a 2018-born player is grouped?+
Yes. Under the old US birth-year system, all 2018-born players were in the same group. Under the new US seasonal system starting 2026-27, they split at the August 1 birthdate.
What ball size does a 2018-born player use?+
2018-born players in the 2026-27 season use size 3 (Aug-Dec births) or size 4 (Jan-Jul births).
Are 2018-born players affected by heading rules?+
Yes. US Soccer bans heading in games and training for players U11 and younger. Some 2018-born players still fall inside that window in 2026-27.
Does this change for Canada Soccer?+
No. Canada Soccer keeps the birth-year (January 1 - December 31) system. All 2018-born players are U9 for the 2026-27 season under Canada Soccer.